Lifting-truck.



F. IRRGANG.

LIFTING TRUCK.

MPLICATION FILED FEB.2.1915.

Patented Jim. 1l, 1916.

SHEETS-SHEET l.

1N VEA/TOR.

WITNESSES:

W. F. IRRGANG.

LIFTING TRUCK.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.2,1915.

Patented Jan 11, 1916 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2 l l I l H 1 Y 1; l

W. F. IRRGANG.

LlFTxNG TRUCK,

APPLICATION FILED FEE. 2,1915.

Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

awww.,

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY @Zim WITNESSES:

W. IRRGANG.

LIFTING TRUCK.

APPLICATxoN FILED FEB. 2. 1915.

Patented Jan. 11, 1916'.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESS@- ATTORNEY.

W. F. IRRGANG.

LIFTING TRUCK. Y APPUCATION FILED 1511.2. 1915.'

1,167,5 f34- Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

WI TNESSES iNVENToR. l MM 91.914111 BY f4 ATTORNEYS.

FFE STAE PdEFENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. IRRGANG, OF WINDSOR LOCKS, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOB TO GEORGE I.

CLARK COMPANY, OF WINDSOR LOCKS, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION NECTICUT.

OF CON- LIFTIN (ir-TRUCK.

Application led February 2, 1915.

To all Q/:rom t may concern Be it known that l, VILLIAM F. IRRGANG, acitizen of the United States of America, residing at il'indsor Locks, inthe county of Hartford, State of Connecticut, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Lifting-Trucks, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates particularly to improvements in that type oftruck termed a "lifting" or elevating truck. This type of truck has beenknown for a long time and involves in its construction a part which isvertically movable with respect to the rest of the truck. Mechanically,it is a jack mechanism mounted on wheels so that it may be used both asa jack and truck in various systems of lifting, holding, transfi-frring,and depositing loads of material to save loading and unloading in theordinary sense.

rlhe object of this invention is to provide an improved mechaneial meansin such a truck for lifting` the load, which is operable bymanipulatingY the handle.

Another object is to provide an improved arrangement of the handle andhandle-operated lifting means with respect to the truck.

Another object is to provide an improved means for holding the liftingplatform of the truck in lifted position and releasing it when desired,which means is controlled and actuated by movement of thehandle-operated lifting means.

Other objects are to provide in a lifting truck generallyv improvedmechanical structure, improved arrangements for the structure, andimproved modes 'of actuating the structure as will be defined intheannexed claims.

For thepurpose'of illustrating one preferred foi-ur of embodiment andcertain specific modifications of the"'invention, the

drawingsand following detailed descrip?" tions thereof are used.

ln the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a 'top plan view of .the truckwith the platform shown in elevated position; Fig. 2

is a side elevational view thereof; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectionalelevation taken on the, line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and looking in the directionof the arrows; F ig. 4 is a partial side elevational View ot' the truck`with the platform shown in lowered position; Fig. 5 is a sectionalelevation of the Operating Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, 1916.4

Serial No. 5,628.

mechanism connected with the handle; Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional viewtaken on the line 6-G of F ig. 2 and 'loolting'in the direction of thearrow; Figs. 7, S, and 9 are Views similar to Fig. 3, showing varioussteps in .the raising and lowering of the truck platform; Fig. 10 is asectional view showing a part of the mechanism for holding the platformin lifted position; Fig. 11 is a modification of the operating mechanismconnected with the handle; Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 10 showinga modification; Fig. 18 is a detail plan view showing the preferredmanner of positioning the power applying means to the platform; Fig. 1lis a sectional view taken on line 14e-1l of Fig. 13; Fig. 15 is a viewsimilar to Fig. l. showing a preferred form of the handle-operated meansfor shifting the movable platform of the truck; Fig. 16 is a centrallongitudinal sectional view of the means shown in Fig. Fig. 17 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 1G, showing the parts in another position; Fig.18 is atransverse sectional view taken on the line 18-1S of Fig. 15 and lookingin the direction of the arrows; Fig. 19 is a cross sectional view takensimilarly to Fig. 6 showing a modification of the platform liftingdevices, and Fig. '2O is a partial side elevation of the truck showing amodification in the arrangement of the platform lifting devices.

Referring to the drawings in detail and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2,the frame of the. truck comprises a pair of spaced reach bars 1, rigidlyjoined at their forward ends by a casting l in which a fifth wheeldevice, including the front wheel 5, is mounted. The rear wheels 2 aremounted on an axle 9. which is secured in the reach bars l. The liftableplatform of the truck 3 is conveniently made up of angle iron sections,as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Lifting devices'farenterposed betweenthe platform 3 and the liars 1, and these Ydevices, when the platform ismoved longitudinally by means to be described` are operable to lift theplatform. These devices, in the embodiment of my invention illustrated,are four in number and are preferably applied adjacent the four cornersof the truck platform. A descrip- 'tion of one of these lifting deviceswill suliice from is a rack 8, which isharranged with the pitch line inan inclined postion. Adjacent the rack S Aand Vintegral-ltherewith is acam 8' having a isnrface, col pitch lineof the raclill'tivotally mountedin forin'"'3 with respect to the-,frame in' an obvious inanner'. Thepositions of the lifting devices may be varied according to the type ofplatform' iised,`

largel ai'ea'is desired` the.y pivot connections (5 with the fran'ie lfor the rear gears T maybe placed back of the `axle 2v as elearl)v shownA' in Fig'. 2f). rl`hetendenc'v for the platform to tip' whencarr'viiigfa high load will be thus largely.` obviated bv' a properpositioning' 'of the liftingfdevices.

1f desired. the racks t1' and gears v7 may be separated from the cams asshown in Fig 1%). ln this figure` a -gear 7() and rack 71 are a1'-ranged centrally, of the frame and. operate a cam rod72 with cams Til onthe end which engage cam surfaces T4 secured to the platform-3. 'l`heconstruction in 'Fie'.ll is otherwise similar totliat showirin Fig` andalread.)y descrilad.r In ,other words. the specific positions shown forthe li'fti1i; {'de.\'ic,es and the. relative postions of the and; racksare of secoudar)r importance.

integrally formed with the rack 'N of each elevating' 'device is adepending web i), shaped clearly shown in Fic'. 2. 'lhis ,web extendsdownwardly closely4 adjacent one side of theeear T, andthe-.latter ispositionedlaterallyvr by this web land the reach bar 1, a'sclearly'showirin hiee. Formed in the web S) is a curved slot 1l andfixed in the gear l or integral 'therewith isa pin l() which' projectsoutwardl)y from the gear and rides in theslot ll, 'the-,web i) land pin1() eo-act to prevent the ph'i l'orm -l' from tipv)ing or being' liftedbof-lily' from the frame 1 and tlie'caiu surfaces T/ 'and gears T npon'which it rests` in other` words, each elevating device has embodiedtherein and as a part'thereof means to prevent the tipping of theplatform with respect to the frame which `mig'htf oll'ierwise'distributed loads.. f y i The rneeliaiijii 'for-moving` the platform 3longitudinalllyfvith relation tothe frame 1 temperate the' platformlifting devices will described#Fixed to the swivel whiclrhas twoupstan'ding webs esponding with thfe` yb ya constlficted opening'.`,webs` of the `member 12 latter lia'soi'ie side 13 'A 1n Fie'. 5,whereby portion to they other circular portion 'opening 1S, through thev thereof.

l"or example, if one of' cams, nears,4

i and lift the, same from the `notch 23.

occtu" witlr unevenly supi arranfeinent "for spaced webs is a gear 1lwhich is rigidly secured to the truck handle 15. rthis gear 14- lias anopening; 1S extending transversely 'therethreiner-h, which, as clearlyshown in Fig. 5, comprises Itwo circular holes joined Fixed in the two yand extending' through tlie openinglo is ,a pin 13. The slalibe'd olf,as showny it mav pass, as the gear 7: isnmovedup .and down, from onecircular of the constricted portion It is to be noted that the gear is:freely rotatable, when the pin 13 is in either of the circularportionsand that; in oi'der to pass from one cii'culai' portion to the other ofslot 1H, the gear and handle must be positioned as shown in Fig. 5. Whenthe gear 1l is .so positioned, ears 1li on the handle l5 ei'igfageabutments 1T on the member 12. Slidably mounted iii the base of thememberv i 1'2 is a rack 2l) which has a roll 25 pivotally mounted atv 2lin one end thereof.y

` Fixed to the fmward end'o'f the platform :l -is a casting 2G (seeFigs. 1 to` il) which hasraI curved surface 2T forwardly inclined. lTheroll 23 isad'apted to engage the face ofl casting 2V to shift theplatform 3 loiigitiidi# iiallv with respect to the frame 1, as when theracli' 2i) is forced' backwardly 'as the handle l5 is swung do\\'nwardl\Y vto operate the ,g'ear Il. livotally mounted at 22011 the inner sidesofthe upstanding webs of the member 12 is abail member 21. The 15glatter has forward extensions which are engrivigeable by hobs lilintegral with the Uear lil. l`liis bail member also has a' rear U-'shaped portion, which extends transversely across the rack 20 and isadapted, when the 'parts'are in the relative positions .shown in Fir'.2, to'engag'e in a notch o" in the,

Ht) rack -to lock the latter to the member 12. By lockingthe rack, as(.lescribed, the insertion of the gear 14 in correct meshingr relationwith the rack 20 is .insured after each removal of thekg'ear therefrom.1t is to be A' noted that, as the gear 14 is lowered to engage the rack,the hubs 1i) bear `upon the forward extensionsvof the bail member 21 iThese hubs 1i), substantiallyY 4circular in shape., also act to hold thebail member 2l'away from v-the lrack 2() while the latter is being'recipro cated by the gear 14. The. gealli, racly 20, and member l2comprising the primary means'foi."shifting the platform, are later--ally movable by-and move with the. handle l 1'* as wellas the frontwheel 5.

The curved surface 27, arranged asshown,

perm-its the platform to be moved by'fthc rack 20 when thehandle L15.and wheel are in Various:angular positions. l'lowever, 'f

the yproper andl best mechanical,position and i .movingl the ,Yplatgt'olvin by 1354' i the handle and mechanism described is that shownin Fig. in this arrangement, the handle. when pulled forwardly7 operatesthrough the gear il to force rack in the direct line of the horizontalmovement of the platform. Thus. all the force applied is used to thebest mechanical advantage. if the handle and wheel 5 is swung around atan angle before the elevating operation. then the force applied is splitinto components one only of which does the work while the other tends tocrainp the platform sidewise with respect to the truck frame.Therefore.y the preferable arrangement is to provide on the surface 2T acentral downwardly pointed wedge 2T such as shown in lil and il. Thiswedge will require the proper positioning of the handle in the centraland vertical longitudinal plane of the truck during the liftingoperation of the platforni.

The means for holdint'i` th platform in its lifted postion and forcontrolling the sana` to permit the lowering of the platforni 3 will nowe described. `llach reach bar l. immediately below .the forward end ofthe platt/.arm 3. is provided with a hump 4?. as shown inlii'igs. 2 and3 having a rearwardly ineli i d s'irface BQ. Slightly to the rear ofthis `iunip 3 and on the outermost side of each aar l. is an upstandingweb 42. Between thi 'two webs 4Q and extending transversely -srross thetruck is a shaft 31. which hairs the actuating devices for controllingthe holding means. rl`heiholding devices. one at Hath side of the truck,are arranged inif paced relation immediately adjacent the sl, le bars i.as showi: in Fig. 1, and ont sci only of these devices will be desfihefl. 'The controlling means for the act i. 'evn'es are positionelrenti-ally of im i eferring particularlv to Fig. represe'i s cylindricalbolt. which if; loosely mounted in the casting 3b. Vlhia bolt isarranged in an inclined positihii parallel with the surface 3l) of thehimp "Il and is adapted to engage or lie badi of the surface El!) tohold the platforn'i :in -its elevated position. as shown in Fie". il."Adjacent the inner edge of the side `u'-, l is a lever 3 7 which pinnedtothe shift ill. rThis lever has an inwardly extending'oll'set portion4l). which directly umlerlie- :he bolt 2S. and is movable close to the.surface fl.) (see Fig. l0). 1n this portion Lil `s a spring actuatedball il, which is :iirzin; )'fili.to engage either of two recesses fofncdyin the surface Ilfl to hohl the lever .'lT in ither of the positionsshown in i oor Fig. ll). rl`he y.. portion il) of his` iever alwayssupports the .bolt '2H ano. when raisi-d by means to be described toilie posit-ion shown in Fig. T, permits the bolt 2* to pass over the.

hump i3 and allows the platform 3 to be lowered.

Fixed to the shaft 3l and arranged centrally between the two levers 37,is a inember which has short arms extending above and below the shaft.livotally mounted at 29 in ears formed on the Casting 26 is a pawl 30,which is normally held by gravity in the position shown in Fig. The rearend of the pawl 30 is arranged to engage with the upper arm of themember 3Q, when the platform 3 is elevated slightly beyond the positionshown in Fig. 3, to turn the shaft 3l and levers 3T, whereby the boltsmay he raised by the movement of the offset portions of said levers tolower the plat forni. lmosely mounted on the shaft 31 is a lever.hereinafter called the pawl-tripping lever. which has a forward flatextension 3i and a rearward extension The central portion of this leveris eut away to form an opening therein to receive the member 32. and thelatter is positioned on the shaft 3l by this member 82. The rearwardextension 33 of the pawl-tripping lever is heavier than the forwardextension and tends at all times to force a projection 3S against thelower arm of the member 32. The forward extension 3i directly underliesthe pawl 30 when the platform is lowered, and is inclined at an anglesubstantially the same as the downward path of the. platform lA asindicated by the dot and dash line in Fin'. 8. To the rear of thisinclined portion 34 is a semi-circular depression -lO which is adaptedto coact with the pawl 230 in a manner to be described. I

The. levers 3T, after hawing beenmoved to the position shown in Fig. 7to permitthe platform to be lowered` must be restored to the positionshown in Figs. 3 and 1() to allow the bolts 2S to again move intovposition to hold the platform on its next upward movement. rThis isaccomplished by the lower edge of the angle iron 3', which liestransversely across the levers 37 and on a downward movement of theplatform il, engages these levers and moves them to the position shownin Fig. 8.

In liftingr the platform by the means described. i'he. operatornaturally raises the platform somewhat beyond the point necessary topermit the bolts 28 to engage bach of and against the surfac l 39 andallows the platform to drop back until the bolt engages this surface.vlVith the pawl 3() in the position shown in lfig. o. there is apossibility that, when the platform is elevated is just described. thepaivl' 30 .might engage the member Sli). and move the levers :iT to holttripping position. The function of the loosely mounted lever SEL-Ell isto prevent such a condition by temporarily removing the pawl 3l) fromits normal position shown in Figs. Land 8. Referring to Fig. 8, it willbe seen that as the platform vwill drag on the inclined portion 34,during the upward passage o'f` the platform and the heavyA portion 33will holdthe end 34r against the` pawl l30 in ythe position shown. Afterthe platform has `been-moved 'slightly beyond the positionnecessary` tovpermit locking by the bolt 28, the pawl will ride oilA Lthe inclinedportion 34, and the levers 33 and 34 will rise so thatfthe end of thepawl 30 is lodged4 in therecess 49. As the platform is allowed to dropback to bring the bolt 2S against the surfacex39, the end of the pawl 30strikes against theforward end of the recess. 49, an'd the pawl isforced back to its normal position, as shown in Fig. 3. This arrangementof the parts'enables'the.operator to lower the-handle to set the holdingbolts, and these bolts cannot be tripped to permitl the lowering oftheplatforlnuntil the lhandle has been raised and again lowered. Thus, theimportant requirement of a .volitional act on the part of the operatorto. lower `the platform is obtained," and the latterl will not be acci.-dentally rlowered when. a heavy` load is to be carried.

Fig. 11 shows a modified form of rthe han-` dle operated mechanism.'The' rack 2() is slidable 'in the base of the member 12 as heretofore,lbut thegear 4(3is permanently mountedvon., a pin-47 and arranged to bealways in meslrwith the teeth of the rack. The handle 15-is forked overthe gear 46 and is loosely mounted on the pin 47 within the spacedupstanding webs 12. Within the handle 15 is ya yslidable-,rod 44, theend of which is arranged to engage a .notch 45 in the gear 4G,` wherebythe latter may ber turned as desired. "hen the rod 44 is disengaged fromslot 45, itmay move on pin 47 without moving the gear 46.

Fig. 12 illustrates a p' ferred form of the bolt tripping levers 3'.. Inthis modilication, the olfset portion 4() heretofore described -isreplaced by a segmental exten-` sion 4S in which the/,spring pressedball 41 is mounted as heretofore described. By n'ieans f thisconstruction, all possibility of the ball 41 dropping out of the leveron account `of an excessive upward movement thereof is eliminated.

IThe types ofi'nechanism for shifting the platforn'r 3 longitudinally,which have. been described in connection with Figs. 1 to 14,

may be desirable for certain purposes. The type of mechanism, which 1satpresent preferred, however, 1s shown' m Figs.

15to 18, inclusive, and' will nowbe. de-

scribed.

thereof are spaced rails 50, whichvdirectly underlie .and engage themembers 51 on the handle 15. The rails 50 and members 51 are preferablyrmade to `correspond with the i pitch lines of the rack 20 and gear 53.A pair of rolls 52, rotatably mounted on the inner sides of the webs 12also bear on the rails 50, and in eoperation with the members 51, serveto prevent the rack 2O from lifting when a load on the platform 3 isbeing elevated. A spring 5G, located within a recess in the underside ofthe rack 20, as shown in Figs. 1,6 and 17, normally retains the rack invthe retracted position shown in the figures.

It will be seen that, when the handle 1.5

is pulled downwardly from the 'position shown in Fig. 1G, an abutment 54on .the

handle will engage an abutment 55 on the gear, whereby the latter may beturned to force the rack 20 rearwardly. The roll 25 on the` rackengages, as described, in connection' with Figs. 13 and 14, a'wedge 27which is 'centrally disposed on the platform 3. This wedge 27. is anintegral part of a bracket57, which curves forwardly and upwardly asshown. 5 is'- adapted to'engage the handle 15, asshown in .theFigs 15and 1G,l when the platform3 isin lowered position. lVhen the platform isin lifted position, this saineA bracket' 57 is arranged to engage a lug58, which extends rearwardly from' and is integral with the handle 15.The bracket 57, therefore, acts to preventthe handle 15 fromftippingrearwardly against any high load, which may be on the platform 3.

From an inspection of Figs. 16 and 18, L

v Moreover, a portion of the 'gear 53, (as seen in' Fig. 16') is 'cutaway at the root line of the teeth. Thus, when the cross-bar 15 of thehandle is turned through substantially 180 vdegrees to bring the4 partsin the rela` 'tive positions shown 'in Fig. 17, the handle 15 is free toturn on the rshaft 47 without turning the gear. Lugs 59l are provided onthe handle 15, which are arranged to engage vloo The end'of the bracketto turn the levers 37 upwardly.

either of the surfaces 60 to prevent the handle from dropping to theioor, when the rack is either in position to actuate the liftingmechanism or in reversed position, as shown in. Figs. 16 and 17,respectively.

rfhe general operation of the type of truck, shown in Figs. l to 14,inclusive, is as follows: Assuming the platform 3 to be in elevatedposition, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, to lower the platform, the operatorfirst swings the handle 15 upwardly7 until the ear 16 engages theabutment 17. The gear 14 may then be lowered into mesh with the rack 20,and the bail 21 is simultaneously unlocked as already described. Adownward movement of the handle 15 will now move the rack 20 rearwardlyuntil the roll 25 engages the curved surface 27. The forward inclinationof this surface as the rack moves rearwardly holds the latter on itssupport or anti-friction rolls can be used for this purpose as shown inFigs. 15, 16 and 17. The platform is thus moved rearwardly as describeda sufficient distance to cause the pawl 30 to engage the member 32 Thebolts 28 are then lifted to a position to permit a free downward passageof the platform 8, the bolts riding freely on the forward inclinedsurface of the hump 43. As the platform is eased downwardly by thehandle 15, the lower edge of the angle iron 3 acts to force the levers37 downwardly and again to the position shown in Fig. 3. The gear 14 maybe lifted so that the pin 13 rides in the lower circular portion of theopening 18, wherein it may move with the handle and not move the rack 20which is held by bail 21 in position to be again moved. To again elevatethe truck, the handle 15 is operated as previously described to forcethe roll 25 against the surface 27 and the platform is moved rearwardly,whereby the cams 7 and 8 co-act to lift the platform. On the upwardpassageof the platform, the pawl 30 is 'engaged by the lever 3a asdescribed to prevent its engagement with the member 32. As the bolt 28rides upwardly on the hump 43, itinally drops over the crest thereofupon the upper surface of the portion 40. Then, when the platform isallowed to drop back, the bolt 28 engages the surface 39- to hold theplatform in elevated position, and the pawl 30 is restored as heretoforedescribed. The handle can, therefore, be used to manipulate the truckwith the platform lifted or not as desired, and the handle-operatedmeans for lifting or lowering the platform is carried with the handleand is always in position to readily cooperate therewith for the desiredoperations. It is to be particularly noted that the handle after beinglowered to lift the platform must be raised and again lowered before theholding means can be positioned to allow the platform to be lowered.This is a safety feature of considerable importance and acts to insurethe proper and careful operation of the truck.

The general operation of the truck, using the preferred form ofplatform-shifting means shown in Figs. 15 to 18, inclusive, is asfollows: Assuming the truck platform to be in lowered position and therack, gear,

'and-lhandle turned laterally by movement of platform 3 is in either itslowered or raised' position and it is desiredrto draw the truck', thecross-bar 15 isturned 180 degrees to The gear forces reverse the rack 20and bring the parts into the relative positions shown in Fig. 17. Whenthe parts are so positioned, the handle 15 may move in any direction andcarry with it the handle-operated mechanism eX- cept that a downwardmovement of the handle will not operate to force the rack 2G*longitudinally. When the platform is in lifted position, it is notnecessaryT to turn the handle, gear, and rack through 180 degrees forthe mutilated part of the gear permits movement of the handle withoutoperation of the rack. It is also to be noted that the bracket 57 andlug 58 act as a Stop to limit the movement of the handle in onedirection and the lugs 59 and surfaces 60 act as stops to limit movementin the other direction.

The 'invention with certain preferred features and specificmodifications has been described in detail, but 'theinvention is moretruly defined in the annexed claims than by specific examples thereofchosen for purposes of illustration.

What 1 claim is- 1. A. lifting truck, comprising, a liftable frameSupported on wheels, lifting devices operable to lift said Yframe, meansto hold the frame llifted, mechanism to trip said means and controllingdevices rendered effective by the movement of the frame to render saidmechanism inoperable until said means is set tohold the frame andthereafter render it operable.A

2. A lifting truck, comprising, a frame mounted on'wheels, a platform,devices operable on longitudinal movement of the platform to lift thelatter, a rack and gear supported on. the frame independently of theplatform operable to move the latter i separated from the platform, atruck handle constructed and arranged to turn the gear for operating therack, said handle, gear, and rack being mounted to turn laterally as aunit.

3. A truck, comprising, a platform, de.

vices operated by the movement of the platform to lift the latter, atruck frame on wheels to support said elements, a handle operatedmechanism on the frame operable when properly positioned by the operatorto engage and move the platform by one downward sweep of the handle andto disengage the platform by each upward sweep'of the handle.

4. A truck, comprising, a platform, a handle, devices operated by theplatform to lift the latter, mechanism structurally independent of theplatform and movable in one direction to move the latter by abutmenttherewith to operate said devices and movable in the opposite directionout of contact with the platform, anda catch to hold the platformlifted, said independent mechanism being movable with and by the handle.

'5. A truck, comprising, a handle, a platform, devices operated bythe`platforin to lift the latter, mechanism strnctm'ally independent ofthe platform and movable inon'e direction to move the latter by abutmenttherewith to operate said devices and movable in the opposite directionout of contact with the platform, a catch to hold the platform lifted,said independent mechanism being movable with and by the handle` andmeans to trip vsaid catch actuated b v' the movement of the platform. yV

v 6. A truck, comprising` a wheeled frame, a handle, a platform, liftingdevices operable by-and on longitudinal'movement of the platform, meansto cause said longitudinal movement, comprising, a slidable bar on theframe, means engageable with the handle to slide said bar back'and;forth into and out of operable contact with the 'platform. t

Y 7, A truck, comprising, .a wheeled frame,

` a steering handle therefor connected. with one wheel-to steei` thetruck, a power multiplying device connected to and movable with thehandle, comprising, a laterally slidable rack, a gear in mesh therewithsaid gear and handle vbeing constructed and arranged to permit up anddown swinging of the handle with or without the gear, a platform, de-

- vices operated by the movement thereof to lift the platform, allconstructed and 'arranged so that the movement of the Vhandle causes therack to engage and move the plat,-v

form.

8. In 'a lifting truck, a supporting Wheeled frame, a platform to liftloads, lmeans located between the platform and' frame operable by alongitudinal movement of the platber in the platform, an abutmenton theframe having one surfaeon \\'lii'cli"tlie'catch rides as the platform islifted anda shoulder back of which the catch member falls when in proper.vertical alinement, a trip device, actuating means therefor carriedby'y the platform, setting i' mechanism for theI trip actuating meansloperable von the upward movement of the platform to prevent ,the

operation of the trip device and operable on I the proper rsetting ofthe catch to place the actuating means infposition totrip the catch onfarther movement ofthe platform v above itsl normal lifted position.

9.111 a lifting truck, a wheeled frame, a

platform, `lifting devices arranged at the several sup porting pointsbetween the vframe and platform, each comprising, an inclined cam ononeand a pivoted cambnthe other, the former having a rack with its pitchline correspondingto the cam surface'and the latter a cam gcar'in meshwith the racltwith its pitch line corresponding Vtoitsfcam surface,'andone cam provided with a 'web overlapping at all times. the ,other cam,pin in the other cam extendingthroiigh .a 'slot in the web, said`slotvbeiiig4 out to correspond with the path of thepin as the 'camsmove relatively one to the other, and ineaiis coperating withsaid web tohold the cams in proper'relative position at all times.

l0. A liftingtruck having, in combination, a wheeled frame, a platform,ldevices operable to lift the platform from'fll frame, a handle,mechanism operable by the handle to actuate said devicescomprising,'apower multiplying means swiveledon the frame and connected toV thehandle, said means'completely rotatable by the latter on `a verticalaxis and movable into one positioni'n which la, downward movement of thehandle will cause the operationV ofthe. devices and' into vanotherpositionin which the handle-,may

with the handle andwheel.on'ftliefvertical Aaxis aforesaid'and'fincludinga `racl'cliorizontally movable to' aetuatethe platform, amutilated gear inirrre'sh'l therewith mennted on the horizontalvaxisaforesaid, va, ypart oonnected with they 'liandle'fmovable'ffreelyaroundthe mutilatedportion of the gear but alternately engageable withthe end teeth thereof, all constructed and arranged so that and lowerthe platform,

, the handle may be positioned to swing up"` the frame to swing'ron andto completely re- A volve about a,vert1cal axis, a handle-open1 atedelement arranged to actuate said means, said element being arranged foractuating said means by a downward swingofthe handle when in oneposition and turnable with the handle on its vertical axis into annerposition to render said element inoperable on a'downward swing of thehandle.

13. A lifting truck, comprising, a wheeled frame,va steering wheeltherefor connected to a fifth wheel member and mounted in the frame toturn on the vertical axis of the fifth wheel member, a handle, gear, andrack operably connected and comp-rising a power multiplying device, allmounted on said member to turn therewith, a platform on the frame,lifting 'and controlling devices actuated by movement of the rack toraise all constructed and arranged so that the powermultiplying devicais operable by, an up and down movement of the handle when the latter isturned to position the rack for operation and is rendered inoperablewhen turned to bring the lracl; out of operative position.

14. A lifting truck, comprising, a wheeled steering wheel mounted on aswiva handle pivoted horizontally on said fifth wheel member, a gearmounted to turn on i 'the horizontal axis of the handle, a rack in meshwith said gear' mounted to slide horizontally on lsaid fifth wheelmember and turn therewith, a spring the rack in normal position, meanson the handle to engage the gear so that a downvward movement of thehandle will turn said gear to operate said rack, said gear and said aplatform on said frame, lifting devices between the frame and theplatform operl able by longitudinal movement of the platform, allconstructed and arranged so that said handle, gear, and rack may bemanipulated to mo've the platform and thus actuate l said liftingdevices, a catch to hold said platform lifted, releasing means therefor,actuated by movement of the platform and conf trolled by the movement ofthe handle.

15. A lifting truck, comprising, a wheeled "frame having a' steeringwheel swiveled 'at arranged to engage and turn said between the fifth iwheel member and the rack tending to hold the front end thereof to turnabout a vertical axis passing through the horizontal axis of the wheel,a handle horizontally pivoted to said fifth wheel member in line withsaid vertical axis, a gear mounted to turn on said last-namedhorizontalaxis, a rack slidably mounted for horizontal movement in saidfifth wheel member with which said gearl meshes, position on said fifthwheel member, said handle having a part connected therewith gear whenthe handle is swung downwardly, all constructed and arranged so that thehandle may be turned with the fifth wheel member and the parts connectedtherewith through ar. arc suflicient to reverse the steering wheel,whereby the up and down movement of the handle takes .place withoutengaging said gear, a platform on the frame, lifting devices operable bymovement of the platform, said platformbeing arranged to be moved andcontrolled by said rack.

16. A lifting truck, comprising, a frame erable on longitudinal movementof the platfrom to lift the latter, a steering handle, mechanismoperable thereby to actuate the platform to operate said devices, areleasable catch to hold the platform in lifted position, a trip deviceoperable on upward movement of the platform to release said catch andmeans to render said trip device inoperative while the platform is beinglifted and locked and on continued upward movement of the platformbeyond locking position, all constructed and arranged so that the handlemustbe lowered and again raised before the platform can belowered. y

17. A lifting truck comprising a wheeled frame, a platform, devicesoperable on longitudinal movement of the platform to lift the latter, asteering handle mechanism operable on a downward swing of the handle tomove the platform to operate said devices to lift the platform, areleasable catch operable after the platform is lifted to apredetermined height to lock the platform against 'downward movement, atrip device operable bv upward movement of the platform to re- 'leasesaid catch and means to render said trip device inoperable on 'continuedupward movement of the platform beyond said predetermined height, saidmeans arranged to prevent lowering of the platform until the handle israised and again lowered.

wiLLmM. r.y IRRGANG.

lVitnesses:

F. Gr. NEAL, Hz E.- Han'rwnnn.

means to hold said rack in normal mounted on wheels, a platform, devicesop-

